What is it like to be a pseudo-pilot?

Imagine this: your job is to play the role of a pilot for anything up to 20 aircraft at a time in simulated computer exercises.

As an Aircraft Control Positions Operator (ACPO) that is what I do. The simulations department I work in here at NATS provides training and development exercises for our air traffic controllers. A number of us play the “pilot” on the other end of the controllers’ headsets in order to give the most accurate possible training experience. We act just like a pilot would, talking to them and asking for clearances (which means authorisation given by air traffic control) and converting their instructions into commands on the simulator, which in turn controls the movements of the aircraft on screen.

3D aerodrome simulator

You could even say we are pseudo-pilots. In fact, some of the controllers call us “blippies” as we’re the ones moving the “blips” around the radar and 3D aerodrome visualisation screens.

We provide all kinds of different types of simulations for controllers – whether it’s for those controlling aircraft at high levels, or those who deal with low level traffic that has just become airborne or is heading towards the final approach into land, or those at an air traffic control tower at an airport. I specialise in the low level airspace around London.

Being an Aircraft Control Positions Operator is a very unique and important role as we are trained to simulate live scenarios for controllers so it is life-like to what they would experience in real operations room.

But it’s not just those training to become controllers. As part of keeping their licence active, once a year every controller has to undergo Training for Unusual Circumstances and Emergencies (TRUCE). Controllers can also practice and enhance their skills throughout the year to ensure they are well-rehearsed.

An Aircraft Control Positions Operator simulating the controlling of aircraft on the approach

We are trained to learn standard aviation phraseology and, depending on the training level the controller is at, we can at times communicate less or even use sound effects – such as alarms in the cockpit or white noise for signal connection problems – to replicate genuine scenarios experienced by controllers and pilots. Simulating scenarios and emergency situations means the controller learns to ask the right questions and performs the correct actions to resolve the situation, as they would have to in real life.

Like an actor or actress, you have to portray emotion in an emergency situation to make it true to life and to train the controllers so they know what to expect and how to handle it.

We’re also very keen that commercial pilots come along for the emergency sessions too. It’s a great way for both sides to meet and gain a mutual understanding of how it feels to sit in the other person’s seat. If you’re a commercial pilot and would like to take part we’d love to hear from you so please get in touch via [email protected].

We’re also heavily involved in helping develop the training for any new operational technologies or procedures.

Simulating aircraft controlling in high altitudes using iFACTS

For example, for the development of Time Based Separation we worked closely with the project team to design simulations that would help make the introduction of TBS as seamless as possible. Now TBS is live, it’s on track to save 80,000 minutes of delay at Heathrow Airport, so it’s very satisfying to know we’ve helped make that possible.

Our department also works closely with the military in simulating airspace and operational changes. Preparing for and simulating airspace changes for the London 2012 Olympics, for example, were hugely successful. I’ve had the exciting chance to watch my colleagues providing an ACPO role for military jets; and seeing the fast-paced work in action was particularly impressive.

Seeing projects like these through from beginning to end is such a satisfying and rewarding feeling, knowing you’ve been a part of the development and improving the processes and capabilities of the traffic within the airspace, making it better and safer for all.

It can be quite a challenge on the simulator dealing with multiple aircraft, just as it is for the controllers. But it’s a wonderful and unique job to have.

Feature image of the pilots in the cockpit via Flickr by Liz West